September 4

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 654.45 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are still around 83 degrees.

It’s still tough sledding with the hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that fish continue to not bite well. His last trip out they caught 7 hybrids and striper and 3 spotted bass, and that was it! Fish are in the same areas and they are still marking a ton of fish, mostly in the Savannah River and at the mouths of creeks that feed into it. When you get up the creeks it’s pretty much only small hybrids. Most of the fish are holding over deep water (yesterday they were in 115 feet) 40-50 feet down when they are not eating and about 15 feet down when they are eating. 

Captain Chip advises that before long fish should start schooling and the bite should get much better. 

The crappie are doing several things right now on Hartwell, but Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they are all a little finicky. Because of that minnows seem to be out-fishing jigs right now. 

One group of fish is in 40-50 feet of water around standing timber, another group of fish is around brush in the creeks in about 20 feet, and then there are also plenty of fish about 10 feet down around docks in 20-30 feet. The fall bite should improve once water temperatures drop a few degrees. 

At the same time the cooler weather has actually hurt the channel catfish and shellcracker bite, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that after the front came through he had to really down-size his baits just to get bites. He is still fishing in 30-32 feet, and they are getting a good mix of both species fishing worms over sandy bottoms with cats also eating dip baits. 

Still no bites from big catfish in 70-90 feet. 

Finally, on the bass front Guide Jason Burroughs with Jason Burroughs Guide Service (864-554-1171) reports that as the weather cools it should bring the baitfish higher in the water column, and he is looking for schooling action to take off any time now.  They are already seeing decent numbers of fish schooling in the channels over 60 plus feet of water. 

While there is still a decent shallow buzzbait bite around bream, the majority of the better fish continue to be suspended in 15-25 feet of water around points and cane on the main lake and sometimes at the front of major creeks. The fish will take topwater lures and fluke-style baits like the Creek Shad. While you could drop shot in these areas, the better fish are higher up in the water column. 

August 28

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 655.07 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are around 83 degrees.

It’s not good news with the hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that the patterns are pretty similar but fish have gotten into a late summer lull. They can mark plenty of fish, and see a bit of schooling early, but the numbers are way down. 

Pretty much all of the fish are in the Savannah River and at the mouths of creeks that feed into it, and when you get up the creeks it’s pretty much only small hybrids. Most of the fish are holding over deep water in 40-50 feet when they are not eating and about 15 feet down when they are eating. Captain Chip has also seen some in around 80 feet on the bottom but they will not eat.

The catch is very heavy on hybrids right now. 

The crappie have also slowed down this week, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that while you can still mark a ton of fish stacked up on brush in about 20 feet it’s very hard to get them to bite. They are very sluggish and basically don’t want to eat right now. 

It’s a different story with the channel catfish and shellcracker, although Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is having to fish deeper in 30-32 feet to get bites. They are getting a good mix of both species fishing worms over sandy bottoms, and cats are eating dip baits. 

While he has tried a couple of times Captain Bill is getting no bites from big catfish in 70-90 feet. 

Finally, on the bass front Guide Jason Burroughs with Jason Burroughs Guide Service reports that the biggest change this week is that he is seeing a few more fish around bream up shallow. These fish will take a buzzbait. 

Otherwise, the majority of the better fish are suspended in 15-25 feet of water around points and cane on the main lake and sometimes at the front of major creeks. He wouldn’t advise going very far back into the creeks. The fish will take topwater lures and fluke-style baits like the Creek Shad. While you could drop shot in these areas, it appears that mostly smaller fish are on the bottom.

There have also been some fish schooling over the channel in 60-70 feet that will take the same baits.

August 16

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 655.72 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. 

Finally, on the bass front Guide Jason Burroughs with Jason Burroughs Guide Service reports that from what he is seeing the majority of the better fish are suspended in 15-25 feet of water around points and cane on the main lake and sometimes at the front of major creeks. He wouldn’t advise going very far back into the creeks. The fish will take topwater lures and fluke-style baits like the Creek Shad. While you could drop shot in these areas, it appears that mostly smaller fish are on the bottom.

There have also been some fish schooling over the channel in 60-70 feet that will take the same baits.

Finally, while Jason has been looking for a shallow bite, he’s not finding much of one right now. 

August 13

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 656.06 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. 

The hybrid and striped bass have gotten even further into late summer positions, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that by now the vast majority of the fish are from the river junction to the dam. They are scattered from the mouths of creeks that feed into the lower lake like Sadler’s, Lightwood Log, Powderbag and Little Powderbag to about a mile back. 

But while the fish are exactly where they are expected to be, since the storm the pre-dawn bite that usually lasts through August has almost totally disappeared. Previously they were catching 15-35 fish this way, but now they are lucky to get a couple.
Instead it has transition to a more sluggish morning bite, and basically they are idling over 70-170 feet of water and finding fish 30-50 feet down. The bulk of the fish are in about 100-120 feet, and they are fishing down-rods 35-40 feet deep and pitching free-lines to pick them off. Sometimes the fish are in open water, and sometimes they are in the trees but will come to the top to eat. Flats just off the river channel are productive. 

Overall it’s a steady but not hot bite, but they are catching good-sized fish in consistent numbers. 

There’s no change this week with the crappie patterns, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that there are still crappie around standing timber in 30-50 feet of water on the main lake. There is also another group of fish on creek brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. It may be that the bigger fish are on the main lake, but there are still plenty of good-sized eating fish on creek brush. 

Both minnows and jigs will work, although we are in the period when sometimes the fish will look at a bait but not commit. Water temperatures are still very warm. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker bite has picked up, although Captain Bill Plumley reports that the catch has shifted heavily towards cats in the summer heat. But he is also using more dip baits because the cats are feeding better, which further tilts the ratio. The best action is coming in about 25 feet over sandy bottoms, with dip baits catching catfish and worms catching both species. 

While Captain Bill isn’t targeting them it can also be a good time for flatheads, particularly early, late and at night with live bait around brush or timber. 

More to follow. 

August 1

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 657.23 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s. 

The hybrid and striped bass have finally made a late summer move, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that by now 80% or more of the fish are in the Savannah River from the dam to the intersection of the rivers. The last couple of miles of the rivers still have some fish, but numbers are dropping.  The bulk of the fish are in deep coves and creek channels that come into the Savannah, and around daylight they are in 30-35 feet on the bottom.  After the sun comes up one group of fish stays in the same areas but moves to clean bottoms in about 45-50 feet, while another suspends over deep trees in 60-120 feet. There’s no choice but to fish for them about 28-30 feet deep because of where the trees top out.

Except for some fish over trees that can be caught on free-lines, about everything is on down rods right now. 

There are still crappie around standing timber in 30-50 feet of water on the main lake, but Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that there are also still fish on some of his creek brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. It may be that the bigger fish are on the main lake, but there are still plenty of good-sized eating fish on creek brush. 

Both minnows and jigs will work, although we are in the period when sometimes the fish will look at a bait but not commit. The heat certainly isn’t making them more aggressive. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker have gone deeper in the heat and the bite has slowed, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that fishing out to about 25 feet he has noticed a clear decline in the bite. Dip baits are working the best for channels while shellcracker want worms. 

While Captain Bill hasn’t targeted them it can also be a good time for flatheads, particularly early, late and at night with live bait around brush or timber. 

Finally, on the bass front, Guide Brad Fowler reports that the fishing has dropped off pretty significantly. He still isn’t seeing much shallow, but the offshore topwater bite has now declined. Unfortunately it seems to mostly be a grind right now fishing drop shots around deep points with brush. 

There is some very isolated schooling action and so it’s worth having a topwater lure tied on. 

July 17

Lake Hartwell water levels are well down to 657.32 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is very high. Morning surface water temperatures were 89 on the big water this morning. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell remains pretty outstanding, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that yesterday morning they had 42 hybrids and striper fishing between 5:40 and 7:00!  It’s not always that good but it’s not often far off, and fish are basically in the same areas as last week. But with this heat they may head south to the Savannah before long. 

For now they are fishing deeper water in the rivers, and around daylight the bait and fish are over humps in 30-35 feet of water with down-rods. As fish get deeper they are pulling out to 45-60 feet of water along the edges of the river channel where they are suspending 25-40 feet down. However, the sweet spot for putting baits is about 18-22 feet down and if you put them more than about 24 feet deep they will die quickly. 

While there are still crappie around standing timber in 30-50 feet of water on the main lake at Lake Hartwell, Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he was pleasantly surprised to find fish on some of his creek brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. He checked about 10 piles and only found them on three, but they were pretty stacked up once he found them. Captain Rodney didn’t even have minnows with him and everything came on jigs. 

For the timber fish you can sit on top of them with minnows or jigs and fish vertically. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker have gone deeper in the heat, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that in 22-23 feet of water he is finding a good bite for cats. The shellcracker have gotten slower, but he’s also spending more time with dip baits (that the catfish will eat) than worms (which both species will eat).

While Captain Bill hasn’t targeted them it can also be a good time for flatheads, particularly early, late and at night with live bait around brush or timber. 

Finally, on the bass front, Guide Brad Fowler reports that he is still hardly seeing any fish around the banks. The best pattern is an offshore topwater bite, with fish being called up from 15-30 feet of water off long points and humps. The new electronics are also allowing anglers to target fish that are basically roaming in super deep water with topwater lures. Unsurprising with fish being caught on the surface, especially early there has been some isolated schooling action. 

The other pattern is the typical offshore drop shot pattern around deep points with brush. 

July 10

Lake Hartwell water levels are well down to 657.99 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is very high. Morning surface water temperatures were 87 on the big water this morning. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell remains pretty outstanding, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that most mornings (like today) they have their limit within a few hours. They are fishing deeper water in the rivers, and around daylight the bait and fish are over humps in 30-35 feet of water. This has been exclusively a down-rod bite, but as fish get deeper they are pulling out to 50-80 feet of water along the edges of the river channel where they are suspending 30-40 feet down. Today they weren’t taking down-rods as well after the early bite, and eventually they switched all their lines over to free-lines after discovering that was what the fish wanted and filled out the limit.  Counterintuitively, as the fish got over deeper water they started to want to come up to 10-15 feet below the surface to eat!

In part for protection from the wind Captain Chip has mainly been fishing the lower Seneca and Tugaloo, but the same pattern repeats itself in the main Savannah River except that fish are more likely to also relate to the mouths of coves in addition to humps and the channel. Eventually most of the fish will move that way.  

They are also picking up some bass fishing for striper deep, including this angler’s personal best at 7.12 pounds. 

That’s entirely consistent with the report from Guide Brad Fowler, who advises that he is hardly seeing any fish cruising around the banks now – especially as they have pulled the lake and water levels have dropped. The best pattern is an offshore topwater bite, with fish being called up from 15-30 feet of water off long points and humps. The new electronics are also allowing anglers to target fish that are basically roaming in super deep water with topwater lures. Unsurprising with fish being caught on the surface, especially early there has been some isolated schooling action. 

The other pattern is the typical offshore drop shot pattern around deep points with brush. 

The crappie have finally made a big move on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that the best concentrations are now 30-50 feet down over brush and standing timber. The best areas are in deep water in the creeks and minnows are now out-fishing jigs. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker are still pretty deep, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that in 18-20 feet of water he is finding a good bite for both species. He is targeting sandy areas and catching both species on worms and channels on dip baits. However, the bite is much faster for channels with dip (stink) baits both because they seem to find it more easily and also prefer it. 

While Captain Bill hasn’t targeted them it can also be a good time for flatheads, particularly early, late and at night with live bait around brush or timber. 

June 26

Lake Hartwell water levels are well down to 658.66 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is very high. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s most places.

The hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell is still very good, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that fish have moved into the main river channels in 45-80 feet of water. Most of the time they are catching them suspended 35-40 feet down, and they are holding over bends, deep rocky points, and ledges. Most of the fish are coming on down-rods, but still a fair number will come up to eat free-lines. 

There are still a few fish left in the coves but they are almost all smaller.

Already some fish are grouping up at the dam which relieves the pressure in the rivers, and by mid- to late July more will be headed that way. However, the water hasn’t gotten hot enough for the bait to leave the rivers yet and so there are still plenty of fish up there. 

 

It continues to be a reliable crappie bite on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that 20 feet of water is still the magic depth. The brush he is fishing comes up to about 10 feet below the surface, and he is catching them over the top of it about 8 feet down. The best bite is still in the main lake and he is catching fish in coves and ditches in the main rivers – mostly the Tugaloo arm. However, the pattern holds all over the main lake.

Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors and minnows are both working well. 

The bass have transitioned even further into summer patterns, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that between the heat and dropping water levels it has not been good for the shallow bite. By now the vast majority of the fish are offshore, and there is some isolated schooling activity. At other times you can call fish throwing topwater baits over points and humps. You can also catch fish with drop shot rigs or swimbaits around the same points and humps, which pretty much all have brush on them. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker have moved deeper with the heat, but Captain Bill Plumley reports that in 18-20 feet of water he is finding a good bite for both species. He is targeting sandy areas and catching both species on worms and channels on dip baits. 

June 12

Lake Hartwell water levels are finally below full at 659.76 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is very high. Morning surface water temperatures are around 82 degrees.

The hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell is wide open, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that it’s now common to limit out by 10:00 or even 8:00! Fish are still in the same general areas mid-way down both of the river arms and in feeder creeks and coves off them, but now they are feeding much more consistently.

There is still some short-lived schooling activity early, and for a little while first thing they will take free-lines. But the down-rod bite is what has really come on, and very quickly fish are stacking up in 35-40 feet at the mouths of coves.  There are also some fish in about 50 feet on ridges. The bait is there and they are gorging on herring, and so it’s as simple as putting a live one in front of them. 

It continues to be a reliable crappie bite on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that 20 feet of water is still the magic depth. The brush he is fishing comes up to about 10 feet below the surface, and he is catching them over the top of it about 8 feet down. The best bite is still in the main lake and he is catching fish in coves and ditches in the main rivers – mostly the Tugaloo arm. However, the pattern holds all over the main lake.

Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors are still producing the best. 

The bass have largely transitioned into summer patterns, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that while there are some fish that will stay shallow feeding on bream all summer, the 

the bulk of the fish are offshore. Throwing topwater baits over points and humps is one way to catch them. You can also catch fish with drop shot rigs or swimbaits around the same points and humps, which pretty much all have brush on them. 

The channel catfish bite is still pretty outstanding, but perhaps because of the spawn the shellcracker are tricky to catch. However, in 10-18 feet it’s hard to miss for channels with dip baits. 

May 29

Lake Hartwell water levels are still very high at 660.32 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 77-79 degrees.

The hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell is finally turning a corner, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that we are no longer in the period where he knows that the daylight bite is likely to make up most of what they catch that day. On their last morning trip Chip had 8 fish at daylight but finished with 36.

Before and after sunrise they are still catching fish pitching free-lines into 15-18 feet of water on points and shoals, but later in the morning fish are starting to settle into adjacent coves and set up on the bottom in 35-40 feet. While they will still take free-lines about as well as down-rods, they are at least eating herring on down-rods now. 

For right now the best action is still about mid-way down both of the river arms and in feeder creeks and coves off them, while the fish in the Savannah River are highly unpredictable. You can also catch fish in many of the larger creeks, including by the dam. When it gets really hot most of the fish will move further down the rivers towards the Savannah. 

It continues to be a reliable crappie bite on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that 20 feet of water is still the magic depth. The brush he is fishing comes up to about 10 feet below the surface, and he is catching them over the top of it about 8 feet down. The best bite has also moved to the main lake and he is catching fish in coves and ditches in the main rivers – mostly the Tugaloo arm. However, the pattern holds all over the main lake.

Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors are producing the best. 

The bass are transitioning to summer patterns, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that there are still a decent number of fish up shallow. The bass and herring spawns are almost totally done, but there are a decent number of fry guarders up shallow around docks or other cover. There are also a fair number of fish cruising, particularly around bream beds. The frog bite is pretty good now. 

However, the bulk of the fish are mostly offshore and throwing topwater baits over points and humps is one way to catch them. You can also catch fish with drop shot rigs or swimbaits around the same points and humps, which pretty much all have brush on them. 

By now the big blue catfish are mostly post-spawn and seem to have returned out to the deep timber, and flatheads are spawning and pretty tricky to catch. But the channel catfish bite is still pretty outstanding in 14-18 feet of water. The best places to look are sandy bottoms and so Captain Bill will look for sand coming off the shoreline and then anchor or beach his boat there. Dip bait is very hard to beat for channels, but for a mixed bag of shellcracker and catfish worms will work. However – right now the shellcracker seem to be mostly a little shallower than the cats. 

May 23

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.52 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 74-76 degrees.

The hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell still haven’t settled into summer patterns, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that regardless they are having some really good days. They are still catching the majority of their fish pitching out herring on free-lines or Carolina rigs off points and shoals in 10-15 of water first thing. The fish are mid-way back in the creeks and rivers, and they are also catching lots of spotted bassmixed in. 

After the sun gets up they are moving out to the coves, and while they are marking more fish in 25-35 feet on the bottom for the time being they just won’t hit a down-rod. Instead, they are catching all of the cove fish on pitched free-lines after they sink about 8-10 feet below the surface. 

It continues to be a reliable crappie bite on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that 20 feet of water is still the magic depth. The brush he is fishing comes up to about 10 feet below the surface, and he is catching them over the top of it about 8 feet down. The best bite has also moved to the main lake and he is catching fish in coves and ditches in the main rivers – mostly the Tugaloo arm. However, the pattern holds all over the main lake.

Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors are producing the best. 

The bass are transitioning to summer patterns, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that there are still a decent number of fish up shallow. The bass and herring spawns are almost totally done, but there are a decent number of fry guarders up shallow around docks or other cover. There are also a fair number of fish cruising, particularly around bream beds. The frog bite is pretty good now. 

However, the bulk of the fish are mostly offshore and throwing topwater baits over points and humps is one way to catch them. You can also catch fish with drop shot rigs or swimbaits around the same points and humps, which pretty much all have brush on them. 

The big blue catfish are really hard to catch with the spawn going on, but the action for channel cats and shellcracker is still very good in 12-14 feet of water. The best places to look are sandy bottoms and so Captain Bill will look for sand coming off the shoreline and then anchor or beach his boat there. Worms are hard to beat for both species, but as temperatures rise the dip bait bite for channels is getting very strong.  

May 15

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.35 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity was normal before last night’s rain. Morning surface water temperatures are around 75 degrees.

It continues to be a reliable crappie bite on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish have left the shallower brush and 20 feet of water is now the magic depth. The brush he is fishing comes up to about 10 feet below the surface, and he is catching them over the top of it about 8 feet down. The best bite has also moved to the main lake, and he is catching fish in coves and ditches on the main rivers – mostly the Tugaloo arm. However, the pattern holds all over the main lake.

Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors are producing the best. 

The bass are transitioning to summer patterns, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that now both the bass and herring spawns are winding down. You can still find some fry guarders up shallow, and there is also another group of fish that will stay shallow all summer and feed on bream. Especially in areas with beds. 

However, the bulk of the fish are probably moving offshore and throwing topwater baits over points and humps is one way to catch them. You can also catch fish with drop shot rigs or swimbaits around the same points and humps, which pretty much all have brush on them. 

The hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell seem to finally be starting to get into a more normal pattern, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that they are now starting to find more fish in about 25 feet of water in the coves. They still are not stacked up like they will be but it’s getting better each day. 

Still the best early pattern is pitching out Carolina rigs off points and shoals in about 15 feet, before then moving deeper off the points and then into the coves.

The big blue catfish are still slow, perhaps because of the spawn, but the action for channel cats and shellcracker is not going away any time soon and the fish remain in 12-14 feet of water. The best places to look are sandy bottoms and so Captain Bill will look for sand coming off the shoreline and then anchor there. Worms are hard to beat.

May 9

Lake Hartwell water levels have jumped to 660.73 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity was normal before last night’s rain. Morning surface water temperatures are around 75 degrees.

Even though the lake is running behind in some ways, fresh off a high finish with partner Brock Taylor in the Skeeter Trail this weekend Guide Brad Fowler reports that from what he can see the herring spawn is basically done and the only bass hanging around the herring points are small. It’s hard to explain why it’s wrapping up so early, even while other lakes further south are still in the midst of the herring spawn, and why the order of the bass spawn and herring spawn was odd this year. It seems a lot of the herring bite was for pre-spawn fish this year.   

Overall, catching fish over about three pounds is difficult. Mostly they targeted bass just up shallow, including fry guarders and some fish still on the bed – even though the bigger fish have finished spawning. Other anglers found a good bite with a buzzbait around bream beds, and some people were fishing offshore brush. 

Another top finisher was tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria with his father Steve, and for Andy it was Junk Fishing 101. He concurs that the herring bite is mostly done, and they found a few fish in marinas, a few suspended over shoals in 20 feet, a few fry guarders, an few fish around docks that would take a Senko. Their biggest fish, a 4-pound spotted bass, came suspended over brush on a fluke. 

The hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell are not doing what they are supposed to be either, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that actually they are running a couple of weeks behind. It’s hard to explain why they aren’t finding a good bite in about 25 feet of water in coves like they usually do by now.

Basically the best pattern is unchanged, except that instead of starting out in just a few feet of water pitching out Carolina rigs off points and shoals they are now starting out in about 15 feet with the same approach. But fish are scattered and moving a lot, and you have to fish a bunch of different areas to catch numbers. They should be grouped up by now.

While it’s not great for guide parties, the most excitement this week has come with striper and hybrids schooling all over the lake. They found acres of fish schooling at the dam one day and then similar action mid-lake, but again fish are moving fast and so you have to work to catch them. Bass boats are better set up to chase them than striper guides. 

Soon the fish should group up more but it hasn’t happened yet.   

The crappie are in similar areas on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they have gotten a lot more aggressive.  Some of the fish are about 4 feet down on brush in 10 feet of water, while others are more like 8-10 feet down in 20 feet.  Both creek and main lake brush is producing.  The bite is so good that there is no need to use minnows as Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors are producing. 

Rodney also has friends who are having success shooting docks in 5-30 feet of water with jigs. 

The big blue catfish are shallow on Lake Hartwell, but the bite seems to have slowed as the spawn approaches. The best depth to look for fish is about 15-20 feet of water. 

At the same time the action for channel cats and shellcracker is not going away any time soon, and the fish remain in 12-14 feet of water. The best places to look are sandy bottoms and so Captain Bill will look for sand coming off the shoreline and then anchor there. Worms are hard to beat.

May 1

Lake Hartwell water levels are still over full at 660.18 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 71 degrees.

Very briefly the cool front slowed the hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that quickly the fishing rebounded and it’s every bit as good as it was last week. First thing they are very shallow in 4-5 feet of water around points, shoals, and old road beds where herring are spawning, and at that time they are targeting them with herring on Carolina rigs. After that they pull out to about 10-15 feet in the same areas and pitching free-lines is working the best. That early bite can last longer on cloudy days, but on sunny days by mid-morning fish are starting to move into coves in the same general areas where they can be caught on down-rods fished about 25 feet deep on the bottom. The cove bite is not very good yet, however, as fish are still staying shallow for much of the day. 

Unsurprisingly the bass are also concentrating on the herring, and while you can still bed fish or catch bass that are up shallow feeding on bedding bream the best bite is for herring fish. Right now points all over the lake are productive, and fish are eating topwater lures, swimbaits, flukes and more. Fish are still in the golden period where the bite is often good all day, even when there is no wind, but when it slows down the fish don’t go far and they can be caught on shaky heads and drop shot rigs in the same areas. Right now, especially with major tournaments upcoming, fishing pressure may be the biggest factor.

The crappie bite is still just fair on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they are still only catching three or four fish off each brush pile before they shut down. Some of the fish are about 4 feet down on brush in 10 feet of water, while others are more like 8 feet down in 20 feet. They are still showing no interest in minnows and the best fishing is coming with Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors.

The big catfish are moving shallower on Lake Hartwell, and while the numbers are never great Captain Bill Plumley has caught some big blues up to the mid-30s anchoring on clean bottoms in coves at about 17 feet of water. The fish are not showing a strong, consistent preference for any particular cut bait.

At the same time the action for channel cats and shellcracker is not going away any time soon, and the fish have now moved shallower into 12-14 feet of water. The best places to look are sandy bottoms and so Captain Bill will look for sand coming off the shoreline and then anchor there. Worms are hard to beat.

April 24

Lake Hartwell water levels are still over full at 660.54 (full pool is 660.00) and water color is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s. 

While they are still catching crappie on Lake Hartwell, Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that the post-spawn funk is lasting longer than normal this year. They are catching about 30 fish per trip, with most of those over brush in 15-20 feet of water. Fish are suspended about 8 feet down over the top of the brush. While much of the brush is in the creeks, fish are also starting to move back to brush in big ditches on the main lake. 

As noted the fish are pretty finicky, and while they will mark hundreds of fish on brush piles catching more than 2 or 3 at a time is rare. They are showing no interest in minnows and the best fishing is coming with Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors.

The big catfish are moving shallower on Lake Hartwell, and while the numbers are never great Captain Bill Plumley has caught some big blues up to the mid-30s anchoring on clean bottoms in coves at about 17 feet of water. The fish are not showing a strong, consistent preference for any particular cut bait.

At the same time the action for channel cats and shellcracker is not going away any time soon, and you can catch all the fish you want in 10-30 feet of water. The best places to look are sandy bottoms and so Captain Bill will look for sand coming off the shoreline and then anchor there. Worms are hard to beat.

April 24

Lake Hartwell water levels are still over full at 660.54 (full pool is 660.00) and water color is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s. 

While they are still catching crappie on Lake Hartwell, Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that the post-spawn funk is lasting longer than normal this year. They are catching about 30 fish per trip, with most of those over brush in 15-20 feet of water. Fish are suspended about 8 feet down over the top of the brush. While much of the brush is in the creeks, fish are also starting to move back to brush in big ditches on the main lake. 

As noted the fish are pretty finicky, and while they will mark hundreds of fish on brush piles catching more than 2 or 3 at a time is rare. They are showing no interest in minnows and the best fishing is coming with Bobby Garland straight tail jigs in natural shad colors.

The big catfish are moving shallower on Lake Hartwell, and while the numbers are never great Captain Bill Plumley has caught some big blues up to the mid-30s anchoring on clean bottoms in coves at about 17 feet of water. The fish are not showing a strong, consistent preference for any particular cut bait.

At the same time the action for channel cats and shellcracker is not going away any time soon, and you can catch all the fish you want in 10-30 feet of water. The best places to look are sandy bottoms and so Captain Bill will look for sand coming off the shoreline and then anchor there. Worms are hard to beat.

The hybrid and striped bass fishing continues to be outstanding, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that the cold front really didn’t hurt the bite much. This morning they had a fish over 20 pounds!

The big spawn is over and fish are starting to make their way out of the backs of the rivers, moving into in the main river runs. First thing they are very shallow in 4-5 feet of water around points, shoals, and old road beds where herring are spawning, and at that time they are targeting them with herring on Carolina rigs. After that they pull out to about 10-15 feet in the same areas and pitching free-lines is working the best. That early bite can last longer on cloudy days, but on sunny days by mid-morning fish are moving into coves in the same general areas where they can be caught on down-rods fished about 25 feet deep on the bottom. 

More to follow.

April 11

Lake Hartwell water levels are still over full at 660.7 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake has cleared. Surface water temperatures are still about 64 degrees in the mornings. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing has finally taken off on Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that the early morning bite is very, very good.  Usually they have a good box of fish by 8:00, with about half of the fish hybrids/ striper and half spotted bass. 

Fish seem to be on most of the points in the rivers and fronts of creeks, working their way further back, and first thing they are very shallow in 6 feet or less. As the sun comes up they gradually slip deeper into about 10-15 feet, and then after about 8:00 they head out to 25-30 feet in the coves – where they become much trickier to catch. On cloudy days the shallow bite lasts longer.

A combination of Carolina rigs, pitched free-lines, and down-rods are catching fish.

You can also catch fish with traditional bass fishing techniques, and tournament angler Reid McGinn reports that just running windy points with flukes, swimbaits, and topwater lures last week he caught about 1/3 spotted bass and 2/3 striper and hybrids. Frankly you can catch bass on about any shallow technique you want, and he also had success with a buzzbait inside pockets as well as flipping the banks with a creature bait for bed fish. 

Reid did not see herring following his baits, although there may be some there, but it’s as if the fish are up there waiting for the bait to arrive.

The crappie fishing is still very strong on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that for him the best pattern has been casting black and chartreuse jigs at brush in about 20 feet of water. The fish are suspended about 8 feet down and they are catching them just winding back to the boat. 

The bite for big catfish is still a little erratic, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that they have caught only the occasional blue catfish anchoring in about 30 feet of water. However, the action for channel cats and shellcracker has taken off and you can catch all the fish you want in 10-30 feet of water. The best places to look are sandy bottoms and so Captain Bill will look for sand coming off the shoreline and then anchor there.